A charity raffle winner has donated the majority of her prize pot back to a Worcestershire hospice fundraising for its care.
Rita Bullock from Upton upon Severn scooped the top prize of £3,100 in the St Richard’s Hospice Snowdrop Draw – a pound for every person cared for by the hospice team each year.
Upon hearing of her lucky win, Mrs Bullock – who’d bought a single ticket at the charity’s Upton upon Severn charity shop – immediately donated £2,000 back, much to the surprise and delight of hospice fundraisers.
Laura Clarke, Campaigns Fundraiser for St Richard’s Hospice, said: “Being able to contact raffle winners about a prize coming their way is a lovely part of my job but Rita’s kindness has taken that to another level. To donate £2,000 of her winnings to the hospice is so kind and could pay for someone to receive specialist care on our In-patient Unit for three days.”
“Rita’s generosity, along with everyone else who so kindly bought tickets, means our raffle has raised £20,939.20 after costs. This is a huge amount to help us be there for patients, their loved ones and bereaved people across the county.”
The St Richard’s Hospice Snowdrop Draw forms part of the annual fundraising activities for the charity which this year celebrates forty years of care. First prize winner Mrs Bullock had a unique reason for taking part in the raffle:
“Snowdrops are my favourite flower so I felt compelled to buy a ticket in my local St Richard’s shop in Upton and didn’t think too much more about it.
“When I received the call to say I’d won first prize, I felt straight away that I would like the hospice to benefit. I will treat myself to some new glasses and am delighted that the rest of the prize fund will help others. My sister was cared for by St Richard’s before she died so I know first-hand what a difference their support makes.”
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity caring for adults with a serious progressive illness, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment to their last days and supporting those important to them.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It costs £10.28m to run the hospice (22/23 audited accounts), which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.